Accessibility Links

Prison numbers rise as Scots crimes fall

June 30 2012, 1:03am, The Times

Some prisons are near breaking pointPurestock/Getty Images

The Scottish government’s battle to ease overcrowding in prisons was dealt a major blow last night after figures revealed that the number of inmates had hit a new high even though recorded crime is at a 35-year low.

The number of offenders being locked up has increased significantly and the rise is being partly fuelled by prisoners on remand — most of whom have not been convicted — and by women. Although the SNP administration could take some solace in the drop in prisoners serving sentences of less than three months, the number of those serving less than four years remains high.

Some of Scotland’s prisons are already close to breaking point and the Chief Inspector has repeatedly pleaded for action to be taken. Brigadier…